in-Depth reviews

Best Coffee Grinder reviewed

Getting the right fineness or coarseness, as well as grind size for your coffee beans is essential in making the perfect cup of coffee, whether it’s brewed, espresso, or special blend. Of course, other factors are essentially at play, like the temperature and pressure, but grinding your beans right is a top priority.

There are different types of coffee grinders in the market, designed for different types of beans. You should know that different beans require different handling, storage and grinding itself. Oily beans, for example, need to be ground with more force so a fairly powerful grinder will not do. You’re going to need one with higher settings.

Below is a list of some of the grinders we chose to review. If you’re looking for a coffee grinder, take a look at the different features listed for each product and compare them to what you think you would need most. Also, the type of coffee you’re making and coffeemaker you’re using really would make a difference when choosing the best coffee grinder for you. Are you making an espresso? Espressos are concentrated cups of coffee and therefore, the quality of ground beans need to be very precise, especially when you’re mixing it with different flavors or making cafe style drinks such as cappuccinos macchiatos. The grind consistency also determines the richness of the flavor of your coffee. Do you like it strong or mild?

Before we compare products, here is an overview of the type of coffee grinders that are available today, and what they’re best for.

Machine

Name

Grind Settings

Capacity

Color

Motor Power

Amazon Rating

Price

Mr. Coffee BVMC-BMH23

18

18 cups

Stainless

150w

3.5

$$

KRUPS F203 Electric Spice and Coffee Grinder

2

12 cups

Black

200w

4.5

$

Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind

18

4 to 18 cups

Stainless

140w

3.5

$$

Hamilton Beach 80365 Custom Grind

5

4 to 12 cups

Platinum

300w

4.0

$

Baratza Virtuoso Conical Burr

405 to 450 rpm

8 cups

Stainless

480w

4.0

$$$$

DeLonghi Stainless Steel Burr Coffee Grinder

3

2 to 12 cups

Stainless

120w

4.0

$$

Capresso 560.01 Infinity Burr Grinder

16

12 cups

Black

100w

4.0

$$$

Melitta Coffee Grinder

3

4 to 14

Black

150w

4.5

$

Types of grinders:

1) Blade Grinders

These look like your typical kitchen blender, with a blade in the middle to slice and crush the coffee beans. But they’re not very effective especially when making small amounts of coffee because they tend to over burn the coffee with the very fast blades.

2) Burr Grinders

One of the most common and longest existing type of coffee grinders is the Burr Grinder. It’s a little more expensive than a blade grinder but produce a more consistent brew. It does this by making the process really slow. It takes at least a minute to grind beans enough for one cup. This way, it doesn’t burn the coffee and keeps the flavor intact. The grind size can easily adjusted from coarse to fine (powder).

3) Disc and Conical

If you’re making specialty coffee or Cafe style drinks, you need more precise grinders like disc and conical grinders. With these, you can adjust the grounds from very coarse to very fine, with your desired consistency. The ground beans fall in between two discs or cones, hence the name, one is rotating and the other stays in place. You don’t need to know all the very technical details, unless perhaps you’re an aspiring barrista or serious coffee enthusiast, but you can be assured that these are the most precise. However, they are also very expensive. Though there are some manufacturers now that make these in fairly afford prices.

Those are some of the most commonly used grinders. Of course, there are some coffee machines or espresso makers in which, the grinder is integrated. Take a look at a review of coffee grinders below.

This is a type of blade grinder that is electric. It features 200-watt motor which grinds your beans fast and consistent. It has a large capacity, up to 12 cups of coffee, so this is great for bigger famous or those who like have guests over for coffee. It mag also be suitable in an office. It is currently priced at $19.99 and comes with a 2-year international warranty.

The great thing about this model is its elegant black design which would go well with any kitchen. It is also versatile because it can grind nuts, spices and grains as well, so this is a very practical choice. It has sharp stainless steel blades for precision, aiming to produce the same quality grounds as in coffee shops.

Of course, it may not be the best for everyone. Here are some of the things that customers are saying about this grinder, what they love most about it and some faulty features.

Pros

Fine grounds – It’s good for making really fine grounds of coffee, maybe not so much for coarser grounds. If you like coffee flavors or specialty coffee that require fine grounds, this will do the job quite well.

Can grind vegetables and herbs – It can grind leafy vegetables efficiently, as well as herbs.

Metal construction – Unlike other grinders in this price range, it has a high quality metal construction and stainless steel blades. Only the covering of the blade is plastic.

Cons

Loud – the grinder can be loud, especially in high setting.

No other cup – there’s no option for another cup or container, if you plan to use this for coffee and veggies or spices as well, you’re going to have to clean it up in between.

Hamilton Beach 80365 Custom Grind Hands-Free Grinder, Platinum

If you need something that can be portable, this Hamilton Beach hands-free grinder is quite powerful for its size. It’s a little more expensive than the previous one, currently at $25.99 in Amazon but it offers a bit more convenience when it comes to operation. It features hands-free grinding. Simply put your beans inside, put the lid on and set it to your desired size, amount and fineness. You can even choose from the presets like espresso and drip coffee, and the grind will adjust the settings for you.

It’s small so it can fit most counters. It also features hideaway cord, so if you’re going out on a trip somewhere and want your own homemade coffee, you can bring this grinder with you. It is also capable of grinding spices, so you can use it for coming and preparing other dishes. The grinding chamber is removable and is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. The cup has clear markings to make your preparation even more precise. It features auto shutoff to save on energy.

Here are some of its most loved features and some things that need improvement.

Pros

Portable – this grinder is compact and has a cord storage so you can bring it if you’re going on a trip or maybe even camping.

Fast – It is very efficient, especially when you’re using the preset.

Powerful – It has a lot of power Sony can use it for grinding hazelnuts as well as other spices.

Cons

Not so even grinding – the grounds are not so even, whether in the coarse or fine setting. Some buyers said that there were chunks in their beans.

Small – It can grind up to 12 cups of coffee at once, but the container is small so it cannot work as a bean hopper like other grinders.

This grinder features a stainless steel cup, not only the blades, for a more robust construction and higher quality grounds. It is currently sold at $29.95 in Amazon. This grinding cup is removable so you can easily pour your beans onto your coffee machine or espresso maker. This is important in preserving the flavor of your coffee. If they’re not brewed immediately, the beans lose their flavor. The design is also quite interesting. It has a safety lock that prevents operation when lid is open.

It also has a cord storage, for safety and convenience, so you can easily put it away when I it in use. It is compact so you can bring it when traveling, or if you have an RV. It’s easy to use, especially with the large activating button. Its nice design and stainless steel construction is not only for aesthetics but they also make the grinder highly resistant to breaking, scratching and rusting. It comes with a 2-year warranty.

Here are its best features according to customers and some things to consider before buying.

Pros

Compact – the grinder is compact and would fit most counters.

Fine consistency – It produces fine grounds for those who use special beans that need to be powdery, even for spices.

Stable – the machine is stable because of its high quality housing.

Cons

Short cord – Some customers say that the cord is too short. But there is actually a cord storage and you may just need to pull on it harder.

No handle – the cup doesn’t have a handle and you might still the beans when you lift it up and pour onto the coffee maker.

Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill

If you really love coffee and imagine doing a lot of grinding, this automatic Burr Grinder may be the best for you. It is available at $49.95 in Amazon and has a very elegant and professional deign. It’s a heavy duty grinder, ideal for big homes or maybe even small coffee shops. The Burr Grinder allows for uniform grounds and rich flavor. Choose from the 18-position grind selector, from ultra fine to coarse, to cater to different tastes. This is perfect if there are a lot of coffee drinkers in your house.

It works as a bean hopper, unlike the smaller models earlier. This one can hold your beans and keep them fresh the whole time because of the chamber lid. It can grind from 4 cups up to 18 cups at a time. Simply choose the amount from the slide dial. There is also a removable 8-ounce bean hopper, to store perhaps the beans that are most used. The power bar is separate and is activated with one touch, for efficiency. It has an electric timer, which automatically shuts off the unit when grind cycle is complete.

Here are other pros and cons for this model.

Pros

Easy to clean – all the removal parts are dishwasher safe so it is very easy to clean and maintain.

Large hopper – the grinding cup itself and the bean hopper are both large so you can store a good amount of beans before having to refill them.

Easy to use – the dial makes it very easy to use, to choose from fine to coarse.

Cons

Not perfect for espresso – customers who use this grinder for making espresso based drinks are not very satisfied.

Not very consistent – the grounds are not very consistent, some found it to be a little powdery on coarse setting.

Mr. Coffee BVMC-BMH23 Automatic Burr Mill Grinder, Black/Silver

This grinder can be qualified as a super-automatic, although those are usually attributed to coffee makers. It features up to 18 custom grind settings, which you only have to choose and the grinder will do it for you. It is currently priced at $55.34. It has a nice design and would look great on any kitchen or even office. It’s large and can hold up to 1/2 pound of coffee beans, so this is great for those with large families.

It uses Burr plates, instead of blades so the grounds are more consistent. It produces a more uniform grind allowing for the optimal flavor from your favorite whole coffee beans. Enjoy a more aromatic, significantly better tasting coffee in the comfort of your home. This is great for making specialty coffees without having to go and order from the expensive coffee shops. The grinding chamber is removable for easy cleaning. It also has a cord storage.

Here are some of its biggest advantages and features that need improvement on.

Pros

Large bin – the bean hopper as well as the grinding container is large.

Auto shutoff – It features automatic shutoff to help you save on energy costs.

Cons

Gets clogged – the coffee grinder sometimes gets clogged. Make sure you clean the parts every now and again.

Not air tight – the hopper is not air tight so you may want to choose the beans you store in it. It would still be okay for ordinary beans but maybe keep your more expensive coffee beans in a sealed container.

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